Wapun Meadow Improvise

Long limbs strode leisurely through Wapun Meadow as honey-brown eyes absorbed the surroundings before her. Wild flowers grew tall and vibrant throughout the meadow; reaching heights that tickled the tips of her shoulders. It would be perfect seclusion when hunting prey, of which she had been told there was an abundance. Artisan-Toulouse was Ookaan now. She was eager to utilise her greatest skills and get started on stock piling prey. It would be wise to prove her use before too long.

It was a most perfect day to be exploring her new environment. The sun beat down strongly for the early morning light but the temperature felt fair and there was a light breeze ruffling the flowers. The many trees within the meadow's range provided great spans of shade and Artisan took a moment to pause beneath one of them, tilting her nose skyward to gaze in awe at the interesting patches of sunlight that broke through the twisted branches high above her.

After her exchange with Lake, Turquoise ventured south. More certain than ever that home lay to the east, she dithered, not sure she wanted to go that way. She missed her family, though she didn't really feel like facing them and admitting that things with Rivet had gone sour. Some of her siblings had teased her for pursuing another female in the first place. She didn't really feel like dealing with all of that. Besides, there was part of her that wanted to turn back, track down her former lover and kiss her silly.

"Ugh," she said under her breath when she caught herself thinking about Rivet again. She snorted like an impatient racehorse, flicking the thought away and making a concerted effort to focus on her surroundings instead. Turq paused, still channeling her inner filly, and pawed the earth as she took stock of the mountains to her right, the rolling hills to her left and the pretty meadow straight ahead.

Deciding to keep going straight, Turquoise eventually stopped again, snorting in surprise when she stumbled over the scents of other wolves. She leaned her shapely head into the breeze, nose wriggling as she tried to decipher the meaning of these smells. She decided that a pack must call this place home. Turq began to spin on one black heel, bearing no wish to get involved with the locals beyond the one she'd already interrogated. She would either go find Rivet or go home; the option of staying here for any reason didn't even occur to her.

Now she began to lope east, after all, though she hesitated and veered south again, so that she eventually wound up at the other side of the meadow. She loitered there indecisively, cursing under her breath and trying to decide what to do. Turquoise began to pace and, every time she turned, her gaze combed over a stand of cottonwood trees near the meadow's southern edge. She thought she saw a wolf sitting in the shade there, though she couldn't quite tell from this distance and didn't care enough to take a closer look.

:D

Artisan became quite transfixed with the twisted silhouette shapes that were the branches above her. They appeared black as the sun came sharply through, a stark contrast of brightness and shadow that eased her until she was lost in thoughts of her future and what this new and exciting fresh start away from home would bring. Her sense of adventure was rife and her youth would only aid her in seeing as much of the world as she could set her paws on.

A sound interrupted Artisan's reverie; a sharp sound, a curse perhaps? Long sloping nose lowered and her body twisted in its seated position in the direction of the sudden sound. She had been unaware, and scolded herself for such silliness- Artisan usually had her wits about her much better than this. In the distance, a wolf seemed to be pacing up and down, the movements seeming unsure and somewhat irritable.

It would probably have been a wiser idea to leave the figure well alone, but Artisan could smell that this wolf was not Ookaan. She was respectful of the border in her distance, but could she be here for a reason? A few long-limbed strides brought the stranger into much better view: a female with wonderful markings. "Good morning," she offered, with no judgement or authority in her tone. There was no need; Artisan was as much a stranger as Turquoise was at this stage.

Don't mind Turq, she's just moody...

The more she paced, the more agitated Turquoise became. Why couldn't she just make a decision already? Her irritation was directed inwardly and she blamed no one but herself—and Rivet, of course. She cursed them both and the stupid argument that had landed her in this position. How dismaying that something as simple as a petty fight could not only end their relationship but change the course of Turq's entire life.

She muttered under her breath, totally unaware of the approaching wolf until she spoke. Startled, Turq's head whipped upward and her large body stiffened, the ridge of blackened fur rising along her backbone. Her turquoise eyes clapped upon the pretty stranger. Though she didn't actively think about it, she was glad to run into another woman. She offered her a tight-lipped smile, one that didn't touch her eyes in the least.

"Not really," she said quietly. More loudly, she added, "Morning." She absently crooked a leg, which bore a stocking up to the inverted elbow joint, and scuffed at the ground. "What is this place?" she asked, not sure what else to say. By this place, she meant the meadow, which was quite evidently claimed by wolves.

Her brow furrowed as female responded negatively to her greeting. It was not a furrowing of offence, for none had been taken, but one of concern. It was a beautiful day; the sun was shining, the meadow was alive with colour, all its brilliance surrounding them and yet, there shone no light in the eyes of the creature that stood before her. The smile had been vague, the female's irritation did not lie with Artisan and, from what she could decipher, would not be amplified by her presence. She would stay in their exchange for the mean time.

The next time she spoke, Artisan smiled softly and almost shrugged. Was was this place, really? "You have reached the borders of Ookaan," Artisan-Lou began, softly, "A pack I stumbled across merely a day or two ago." There lay a moment of silence, and Artisan felt that this would have been the time in which she'd have provided more information about the pack's existence, lifestyle, numbers. They both knew that this would not be the case so early on. It was no fault of her own. "I've been travelling," she offered, as it seemed by her uncertainty that the female before her was doing just that.

"Ookan?" Turquoise repeated, a touch of incredulity coloring her voice. "What's Ookan about?" she asked, unaware that the female's newness likely meant she didn't know too much about it yet. She should know something about the pack if she'd joined it, though. "Ookan," she repeated quietly to herself, either liking the taste of the word on her tongue or else musing over its silliness; it wasn't clear which.

In the next moment, she said, "I'm Turq, by the way. Who're you?"

Sorry for le slowness. Been busy!

Artisan watched the other female muse over the name of her new-found home. The word had not puzzled Lou but had indeed intrigued her, enough for her to follow when she was invited in. Despite the mention of her recent arrival, the other wolf had questions. It was to be expected, really, and she would provide the stranger before her with all of the little information she knew.

"Ookaan is based on the idea of living a virtuous life." she explained. "Being honest and true, doing right unto those around you." It was simple, but it was how she believed a life should be lived. The stranger introduced herself as 'Turq', which Artisan thought to be a rather masculine sounding name, much like her own. "Nice to meet you, Turq. My name is Artisan." A brief pause, and curiosity overcame; it was her turn to ask the questions. "Where have you come from?"

No worries! :)

Artisan introduced herself, right after giving Turquoise a few facts about Ookan. Turq chewed over this information, deciding it didn't sound like a place she could ever belong. Although she didn't consider herself a bad girl, so to speak, the place sounded a bit too angelic for her. If she did try to join, she would only disappoint their expectations.

Why am I even thinking about this? she said to herself in the next instant, giving her head a quick little shake as if to toss the thoughts aside. Presently, Turquoise felt no inclination to stay in the area, much less search out a pack. She punted the hypotheticals out of her mind.

"I'm from nowhere, really," she said vaguely, feeling no need to delve into a detailed history, a description of her large family or the adventures she had been on since parting ways with them both the first and second times. "I'm just a traveler. Just a looone traveler," she almost hummed, though it wasn't a merry sound, but one of moody resignation about that fact.

Mega crazy illness has reduced enough for typing, wooo

Artisan couldn't quite figure Turq out. She asked for information concerning Ookaan but did not appear to receive it well. The other wolf paused before briskly and briefly shaking her head; it was hard to work out exactly why this action was performed. It was her way to try to read too much into things, so she decided not to focus on this so much.

Turq was obviously not keen to divulge any information regarding where she had once lived or, no doubt, where she was headed. It was possible that the latter remained unknown. Artisan did not mind so much, it was not her place to pry. Artisan smiled bleakly to herself as Turq stressed being alone, her dry undertones appealing to Artisan's very situation. "I know the feeling." It was a simple statement, simple but true. Before arriving at Ookaan, Artisan had left her home and been a lonely lone traveller herself. Ookaan was not any less lonely just yet, she had yet to meet any of her packmates.

Glad you're feeling better (I hope?)!

Artisan sympathized. Another wolf may have picked up on this cue, asking her what she meant and essentially asking for her story. Yet Turquoise didn't want to go there. She just didn't feel like getting into it with this stranger. It was nothing against Artisan herself; she was very polite and fairly easy on the eyes. Turq just wasn't in the mood for company, she realized.

"Well," she said, "I have a lot of stuff to figure out, so I'd better get going. Sorry for wasting your time," she muttered. "Take care."

The tawny she-wolf didn't linger. After giving Artisan a last look, she turned and began to trot away from the meadow. She would not forget what Artisan had told her about Ookan, though for now the information sifted right out of her head. Rivet's face took up residence there instead, though it was soon joined by the faces of the various members of the Blackthorn Clan. Turquoise was no closer to making a decision about her future.